About Atlantic Flight Training Academy

Quality Training Producing Quality Pilots

Atlantic Flight Training Academy, founded in 1995, is Ireland’s largest – and one of Europe’s leading – Independent Flight Training Organisations.

The Academy, approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is based in Cork International Airport, which is renowned as Europe’s number one training airport with every conceivable flight training aid available.

The Academy has been training international cadets for many years with more recent contracts including Air Astana, Kazakhstan and the Libyan Ministry of Transport. Equipped with a modern training fleet of Cessnas and Pipers, AFTA also boasts state-of-the-art B737 NG and FNPT II fixed base simulators.

AFTA has an unrivalled success rate and have trained in excess of 1,800 high-calibre pilot graduates for global airlines. Our placement record is strong and we have graduates now working in some of the world’s leading airlines including Ryanair, Norwegian, Stobart,Air Astana, Easy Jet, Virgin Airways, FlyBe, Jet2.com, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Cathay Pacific, Qatar, Aer Lingus etc.

AFTA is committed to providing the highest quality of competency based training.

We meet the high expectations of the aviation industry while developing and maintaining a strong relationship with the individual student. Our facilities and the very latest aviation training equipment combine to deliver the optimum training experience. Since the concept of competency based training was born. AFTA have embraced this training philosophy and successfully delivered it to our cadets.

AFTA is proud to be delivering a world class product to airline partners.

Cessna 172, EI-EAM, from AFTA landing at Cork Airport with Ryanair, AllItalia and Aer Lingus parked at the terminal

Aircraft fleet on the AFTA ramp

I thought selecting a flight school was going to be a difficult process, as it’s a very personal decision depending on your life situation. I had researched schools throughout Europe but as soon as I walked through the doors at AFTA I knew I was in the right place.

What was important to me, was a training environment that was both professional and reputable. The instructors are highly skilled professionals that have a wealth of knowledge and are only too pleased to pass it on. The school sets high standards from the onset and you’re being trained to airline standards from your first day.

The instructors are highly skilled professionals that have a wealth of knowledge and are only too pleased to pass it on. The school sets high standards from the onset and you’re being trained to airline standards from your first day

When I completed the integrated course, AFTA guided me through the process of interview preparation, which made me stand out from other candidates during assessments and simulator checks. I cannot stress how important this was, as it helped me acquire my dream job as a first officer flying the Boeing 737-800 with Ryanair.

I began my flying career with AFTA back in March 2016. I worked very hard to complete my training in 16 months. I secured a job and completed a Type Rating with Ryanair almost immediately after completing my flight training at AFTA.The type rating training with Ryanair was full on and you need to put maximum effort into achieving the high standards Ryanair demand. The Ryanair instructors were also fantastic. This couldn’t have been achieved without the help of AFTA.

Adam O’Sullivan Testimonial

I traveled down to visit AFTA once I decided to pursue my goal of becoming a commercial pilot, and found their professionalism and the quality of their facilities, including aircraft, to be above and beyond other schools I’d considered as well as any expectations that I’d had.

Once I started on their integrated course the instruction received, both in the classroom and during lessons in the aircraft, really made you feel confident in your abilities as a pilot. The instructors had very high standards, but really helped you reach them and I felt confident going into exams like the CPL or MEIR skills tests as the instructors were always on hand to give advice or go over procedures until you felt flying the aircraft became second nature.

Operating in the same airspace as other commercial traffic at Cork airport was an added challenge but really gave me the experience that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else, taking off and landing beside 737’s and A320’s. It forced you to improve your airmanship, situational awareness and your radio calls. What’s more, the weather that Cork receives allowed me to challenge myself even further, actually experiencing IFR conditions rather than fair-weather flying is an incredible thing that pilots on the line see every day but most students don’t experience until they’re already in a job. It really puts you in the mindset of a Captain having to think about alternate airports, traffic and weather conditions each time you go flying.

Operating in the same airspace as other commercial traffic at Cork airport was an added challenge but really gave me the experience that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else

I’m about to start a career with one of Europe’s largest airlines and truly believe I wouldn’t be here without the help and training I received from the team at AFTA.

Jordan Dooney

Jordan Dooney Testimonial

My name is Brian O’Keeffe, and I completed my flight training at Atlantic Flight Training Academy.

I chose AFTA for many reasons. The academy has a fantastic fleet of modern training aircraft which are meticulously maintained and are extremely well equipped. Because of this it meant less time wasted due to an aircraft going tech, and I completed my training under the time frame I set myself.

The standard of instruction at AFTA is phenomenal. AFTA instructors have a wealth of flying experience and take pride in seeing you develop as a student. They are always there to listen and encourage you throughout your flight training.

Cork Airport is a great training environment as you get to experience flight training in controlled airspace with the added challenge of fitting in with airline traffic. Air traffic controllers at Cork airport are renowned as some of the best controllers in Europe managing busy airspace. This environment raises your radio telephony standards to an international level, which is a huge benefit when moving into an airline environment.

In early 2016 I was selected by AFTA for OSM to interview with Norwegian Airlines. With the support of AFTA I was successful in my interview with Norwegian and am now a very proud Boeing 737 First Officer.

I would highly recommend AFTA to anyone looking to start their flight training.

From a young age I had always wanted to be a pilot. When I was a schoolboy I visited Atlantic Flight Training Academy for a week as a student on work experience. I knew after that week that AFTA was the right school for me.

Even though the school has expanded and grown over the last few years AFTA still maintains its core values. I found each instructor to be approachable and friendly, if I ever had any questions there was always somebody on hand to help me out.

The environment that you train in at Cork International Airport is perfectly tailored for a student with a view to become a commercial pilot. It is a busy airport with airline traffic and also on some days challenging conditions which hone your flying skills to a very high standard.

AFTA has some fantastic facilities with a modern fleet of aircraft and simulators. They are the perfect learning aircraft and help you from your initial training all the way up to your MCC course in their state of the art Boeing 737 simulator.

I would recommend AFTA to and young aspiring pilot as the school to go for. I did all my licences, ratings and even my interview preparation with them. It is a fantastic school and I am delighted I chose it.

Conor TreacyFirst Officer, Ryanair

I chose AFTA to complete my MCC/JOC as they have an outstanding reputation as a flight school and with the addition of the 737-800 simulator they were the obvious choice. The instructors were very professional and very thorough and clearly had a huge amount of experience for us to draw on. The first week was all ground school and getting to know the 737 and the roles as a first officer. The second week was what we were looking forward to the most, getting hands on with the sim and sinking our teeth into the multi-crew cooperation. I was amazed at the detail of the simulator and how realistic it felt. By the end of the course I felt confident in working in a multi crew environment and felt confident in the handling characteristics of a jet. The course delivery was immaculate from start to finish and i would recommend it to anyone looking to complete their MCC/JOC.

Garry Deavall

What sets Atlantic flight training apart from other training providers is a company ethos that sets high standards of training but fosters a culture in which you feel capable to of achieving them. The use of SOPs ensures that no matter which of the highly experienced instructors you get you still get the continuity of instruction and you know exactly what is expected of you prior to each session. The instructors do push your abilities to the limit but only provide valuable learning experiences in order to make you a better, more capable pilot.

Charlie Terry

All in all, my experience personally and professionally have exceeded my expectation on both levels. I’ve work colleagues and friends for life. I would highly recommended AFTA to everyone. read more

John O’ConnorCaptain, Ryanair

The Instructors are highly experienced, professional and friendly. They endeavor to help you complete your training in the most time efficient manner whilst making sure you get the best personal instruction possible. read more

John Fitzpatrick

I completed my fully Integrated Commercial pilot training at AFTA in February 2015, and since, got an interview with Ryanair. I have now been offered a position as a cadet with them and looking forward to start the type rating for the B737-800 in October. read more

Christopher Ithier

Immediately after my first lesson I was hooked, and the support from everyone at AFTA, particularly the instructors, allowed me to progress well with my training, even during the school year which I was extremely grateful for. read more

Ava Cregan

The instructors I met are undoubtedly knowledgeable and they have been friendly all the time. Every time I had a training session they wouldn’t let me go unless everything was clearly understood.

I recently passed a job interview for Ryanair and I’m convinced that the succesful outcome depended on the quality of my training at AFTA. read more

Andrea Greco

The preparation you do before learning to fly is critical. We encourage all our prospective students to visit our Academy and speak to our Training Advisors to get an understanding of the career and the training involved.